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Heart-warming Novel

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Amidst her family's decline, she gave up the violin to become a caring canary, only to face her husband's disdain. With newfound enlightenment, she decisively divorced him and resumed her music career, which was a great success and made her ex-husband regret it!
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Joelle Miller pored over Rebecca Lloyd's Twitter feed, studying each video with a laser-sharp attention, was eager to glimpse the face of Rebecca's boyfriend.
Rebecca, the girl in the clips, exuded a soft and delicate aura in her plain white dress. She wasn't strikingly beautiful, but there was a wholesome simplicity about her, and her smile was genuinely charming.

She discovered that on pivotal days--Christmas Eve, Valentine's Day, and even on Joelle's own birthday--Rebecca was with Adrian Miller, her so-called husband, who had been missing from all significant events for the past three years.

Rebecca's joyful narrations and the casual snippets of her life with her boyfriend were more than enough to steep Joelle in gloom.

"Do you see this? He saves the juiciest slice of watermelon just for me."

"Even when he comes home late, he never forgets to bring me a little something."

"And look at this--surprise! He picked up a blessing charm for me from the church."

......

The username on the account was "Countdown To Death." That was the only account Joelle followed.

As she was about to reflect on the ominous name, the bathroom door swung open.

In the dimly lit room, Adrian appeared, water dripped from his hair.

Despite the dim lighting, his striking features were undiminished.

Joelle instinctively snapped her phone shut and gazed at him, lost in thought. It had been ages since she last laid eyes on Adrian.

Tonight, he was here not by choice.

His grandmother, Irene Miller, was ill and desperate for a great-grandchild, which compelled him to return. Otherwise, he might never have come back.

Over their three-year marriage, Adrian seldom visited home, spending most of his time at Oak Villas.

It was common knowledge that he held no love for Joelle.

She felt trapped in a marriage that existed in name only.

"I'll give you one chance. Whether you as you wish or not is in the hands of fate," Adrian declared, his voice resonant and deep.

What was he implying?

Before Joelle could ponder further, Adrian seized her ankle and yanked her towards him, his shadow looming over her petite frame.

Joelle's face turned pale as she faced his cruelty, her body tensed with fear.

"Adrian! Stop, I don't want it..."

Her words were interrupted by her own frantic struggles. Being forced into such a situation with the man she loved filled her with humiliation and terror.

Adrian's sneer cut through the air. "You dared to frame me once; you should have seen this day coming. Just endure it."

At his harsh words, Joelle's eyes filled with tears, her eyelashes fluttering like wounded butterflies.

She looked up at his stern face, her voice trembling. "Things were not what you think..."

Her protest was cut.

The intense pain overwhelmed her, her resistance fading as despair took hold. She lay there, wishing for oblivion.

"You've learned; playing hard to get is far more interesting than just lying there like a dead fish," he rasped, his voice laced with spite.

After his shower, he departed without a backward glance, as though he couldn't leave fast enough.

Before and after, his ritualistic showers seemed to cleanse him of her, as if she were a stain on his conscience.

Joelle struggled to decipher her role in his life. Was she merely a plaything for his pleasure?

Or a pawn to fulfill his family's expectations for an heir?

The window stood wide open, letting in a biting cold wind.

Joelle shivered, drawing the blanket tighter around herself.

It wasn't just the chill in the air that made her tremble. Her heart felt as if it had been torn apart, a relentless icy wind whipping through its open wound.

The man she had adored for nearly eight years was now a stranger to her.

Three years earlier, at a lavish banquet hosted by the Miller family, Joelle had overindulged in w*ne. When she had woken up, she had found herself sleeping with Adrian.

Before she could gather her thoughts, her brother and several members of the Miller family had burst into the room.

What was done could not be reversed. Adrian's grandmother had taken the reins and orchestrated their marriage.

All this time, Adrian was convinced that Joelle had d**gged him to trap him.

Joelle had once been baffled by Adrian's profound animosity, even if he believed she had framed him. After all, they had grown up together.

But now, she understood.

In Adrian's eyes, she was nothing but the nefarious woman who had sabotaged his relationship with Rebecca.

She often found herself pondering how perfect Adrian seemed in Rebecca's videos--always so gentle and attentive. It dawned on her that he would probably never show her that same tenderness.

Eventually, Joelle couldn't hold back her tears any longer and succumbed to a sobbing breakdown.

That night, her sleep was restless and disturbed.

In the later hours, she found herself dreaming of their earlier days when she and Adrian hadn't been at odds.

Awoken by her troubled sleep, Joelle rose unusually early.

After freshening up, she slipped into some casual clothes and made her way downstairs.

Leah Jenkins, the long-serving maid, noticed Joelle descending and promptly set the table with breakfast, familiar with all her dietary preferences.

Joelle took her time with breakfast, eating slowly and deliberately.

"Mrs. Miller, why didn't you convince Mr. Miller to stay last night? It's not often he comes home," Leah commented, her tone reflecting sympathy for Joelle.

Leah had been a servant of the Miller family for many years, witnessing the growth of Joelle and Adrian from childhood friends to the enemies they were now.

A pang of discomfort briefly crossed Joelle's features before she masked it with a composed smile.

"I tried, but he didn't stay," she admitted.

Even if she could keep Adrian close physically, his heart was elsewhere.

His affections lay at Oak Villas, home to the one he truly cherished.

Leah hesitated before speaking again, her tone careful. "Maybe it's because Mr. Miller is so tied up with the company. Running such a massive business takes a lot of his time."

After being reassigned to attend to Joelle three years ago, Leah had come to understand the nuances of this marriage better than anyone.

Her insight brought with it a heartfelt sympathy for Joelle.

Joelle's eyelashes quivered as she nibbled on her toast, her eyes watering slightly from the emotional strain.

Yes, Adrian was preoccupied, but he always made time for Rebecca. He frequented Redemption Church to seek a blessing charm for her.

Despite his hectic schedule, he never missed spending holidays with her.

Just then, Joelle's phone broke the silence.

As Leah left the dining room, Joelle picked up her phone and found her best friend, Katherine Nash, calling.

"Katherine, I want a divorce," Joelle said in a raspy voice.

Chapter 2 On Its Last Legs
Joelle made up her mind--she wanted a divorce.

There was no point in dragging this out any longer.

After a moment of stunned silence, Katherine let out a shrill burst of laughter. "Are you going to get half of Adrian's assets? Oh, my God! Joelle, you're about to become a billionaire!"

"No, I can't." Joelle had signed an agreement when she and Adrian married. If they divorced, she would get nothing.

"Then why the hell are you divorcing? Just keep being his wife!"

Joelle recalled Adrian's roughness the previous night and the humiliation that followed.

She had been so naive in the past, believing that her love for Adrian could help her endure any hardship.

But now, looking back, she realized how foolish she had been.

Did suffering ever make Adrian love her more? The answer was no.

A man who genuinely loved her would never let her suffer in the first place.

Joelle laughed at herself mockingly and changed the subject. "By the way, remember the favor I asked you last time?"

"Yes. I was going to tell you about that. You asked me to keep an eye out for a job, and I've got something for you. You'll be teaching a student to play the violin, though I must say, it'll be a waste of your talent."

"That's fine," Joelle replied with a faint smile. "It's not a waste at all. I've been a housewife for three years. Just having someone willing to hire me is enough."

"How is it not a waste? You were so close to becoming a part of an international orchestra. If it weren't for getting married..." Katherine trailed off, feeling indignant for her friend.

After getting married, Joelle wasn't even allowed to work.

These wealthy families clung to such outdated rules.

The whole situation was ridiculous.

Three years ago, Joelle's violin career had been on the rise. However, the Miller family's strict traditions forbade her from performing in public.

On the very first day of her marriage, Adrian's mother had told her, "You don't need to work. Adrian will provide for you. Your job is to give birth to his babies and take care of your husband."

Once her call with Katherine ended, Joelle went upstairs and retrieved her long-neglected violin from the study.

This violin was a special gift from her father on her eighteenth birthday.

Tragically, not long after she had received it, her father had suffered a stroke and fallen into a coma.

Her older brother had taken on the responsibility of supporting their family. He had let her pursue her dreams of playing the violin without worries.

As she reminisced about the past, Joelle drew the bow across the strings.

Years ago, an accident had injured her wrist, and she hadn't played since.

Now, as she played, sharp pain shot through her wrist, but she persisted. She relied on muscle memory to play a short piece.

In the end, she gave a bitter laugh. It sounded terrible.

Just then, she heard Leah's voice at the door, filled with surprise and delight.

"Sir, you're back!"

Leah was secretly relieved to see Adrian. His returning home must mean he still cared for Joelle.

Perhaps if Joelle said something kind, their relationship might improve.

Meanwhile, Joelle was surprised. Adrian rarely came home during the day.

She had just set down her violin when the door swung open.

Adrian stood in the doorway, his tall frame imposing. With furrowed brows, his eyes swept over her.

He remembered that Joelle had learned to play the violin as a child and had been praised for her talent by a renowned teacher.

But for some reason, she had stopped playing.

Having listened from outside just now, he found her playing mediocre.

How could anyone have praised her talent?

Joelle glanced at him and lowered her head to place the violin back in its case.

Then, in a low voice, she asked, "What brings you here? Is there anything you need?"

"I came to pick up something and remind you that we need to visit Grandma tomorrow," Adrian replied in a cold tone.

Visiting his grandmother at least once a month was a family rule. Tomorrow was the day. If not for this obligation, Adrian wouldn't have returned at all.

If he and Joelle didn't show up together, Irene would be upset.

Joelle smiled bitterly. She remembered the Miller family rules better than Adrian and always adhered to them.

Even Irene, stringent as ever, couldn't find fault with her.

"I haven't forgotten. I'm relieved to know you haven't either," Joelle responded. Her tone carried a hint of accusation, making Adrian sneer.

For a moment, a simmering anger brewed within him. Without another word, he headed straight to the walk-in closet to look for something.

Even though he rarely came home, Joelle still maintained his wardrobe meticulously--clothes washed, ironed, and neatly arranged.

Joelle felt her role was reduced to performing household chores, something Leah could also manage.

Her only advantage, perhaps, was that she was younger and prettier than Leah.

Her eyes followed Adrian's movements.

His ring finger was bare--the wedding ring nowhere to be seen.

A sharp pang of pain shot through her heart.

"Adrian, let's get a divorce," Joelle suddenly said, her voice as soft as a breeze.

Saying those words drained all her strength, yet she felt a strange relief wash over her.

Adrian turned around and stared at her with a mocking smile. "Think carefully before you speak. The Watson family is now on its last legs. Without my support, do you plan to sleep on the streets with your brother after the divorce?"

Since the Watson family's downfall, Joelle had gone from being cherished to ridiculed.

The Miller family despised her and looked down on her as if she and her brother were leeches they couldn't shake off.

Even her intimate moments with Adrian made her feel degraded.

Joelle bit her lip and straightened up. "I've already rented a place. Even if I ended up sleeping on the streets, that would be on me."

All she wanted was for Adrian to respect her, but three years of captivity had worn down her pride and dignity.

"And where did you get the money to rent a place? If you wanted to be independent so badly, you shouldn't have spent a single penny from the Miller family."

Adrian, with his back to Joelle, found the missing wedding ring in a gap and held it in his palm. Joelle didn't notice.

His words left her breathless.

Yes, she had used her meager savings to rent the place. But since she was married to Adrian, wasn't what was hers also his?

Besides, the financial support Adrian had given the Watson family over the years amounted to a significant sum.

Joelle had always despised the idea of owing Adrian anything, yet her debt to him was the deepest.

If they divorced, he would likely sever all financial support to the Watson family.

Was he suggesting she would have to exit the marriage empty-handed?

As Adrian turned to leave, Joelle called out to him, her dignity barely intact.

"I'm legally entitled to this marriage and have a rightful claim to what's supposed to be mine. But don't worry, I won't ask for much--just enough to help Watson Group get through this crisis."

Adrian froze, his features sharpening. His lips formed a thin line, and his jaw clenched. These were clear signs of his brewing anger.

Even though Joelle had mentally braced herself, she couldn't withstand the intensity of his rage.

Each moment under his stern gaze intensified her anxiety.

Just then, his phone rang. Adrian pulled it from his pocket and began to walk away.

"Adrian!"

Chapter 3 I Will Always Hold My Head High
Adrian's frustration crackled in the air like static. "If your brother needs money, tell him to march straight to Miller Group."

"That's not what this is about!" Joelle retorted.

He misunderstood her completely.

Joelle hurried after him, her heart pounding with urgency. "Adrian, I want a divorce!"

At those words, Adrian stopped going upstairs and turned his head; the phone in his hand fell silent too.

At six feet three inches, Adrian towered over Joelle.

His gaze was cold, and when he spoke, his voice dripped with mockery. "Joelle, can't you come up with a better game than this endless push-and-pull? If you're serious about a divorce, why don't you tell Grandma yourself? If not, don't ever let me hear that word from you again!"

The door slammed shut behind him, the finality of it echoing. Joelle leaned against the wall, her legs giving out beneath her until she slid to the floor.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

Their marriage had been crafted by Irene. Adrian had been forced into it, and Joelle knew it all too well.

If she truly wanted a divorce, she knew talking to Irene would be the most effective route.

But a small, foolish part of her had clung to the hope that she and Adrian were a real couple.

That was why she had brought it up with him first--she saw him as her husband.

But she had forgotten one crucial detail: Adrian had never been willing to marry her.

From the start, his reluctance had been clear, though she had tried to overlook it. His last words to her weren't just dismissive--they were a command. If she was serious, she should confront Irene herself.

Joelle took a shower, dressed in fresh clothes, and steeled herself to visit Irene.

Irene was strict, authoritative, and feared by the entire family. She ruled with an iron fist, and disobedience was not tolerated. But Joelle shared a unique bond with her.

Part of the reason Joelle had agreed to marry Adrian was to fulfill Irene's expectations. She had wanted to care for Adrian, build a home, and ensure that Irene could pass away without regret.

But now, she couldn't hold on any longer.

Watching Adrian lavish attention on another woman filled Joelle with a wave of bitterness that threatened to consume her.

She knew Adrian didn't love her. He never had, and he never would!

Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang. It was her brother, Shawn Watson.

"Shawn? What's wrong?"

"Mrs. Miller!"

It was Shawn's assistant, and his voice was panicked--something Joelle had never heard before.

Her blood ran cold, and she gripped the phone tighter as she stood at the bottom of the staircase.

"Where's Shawn? What happened to him?"

"Last night, Mr. Watson attended a business meeting where he was pressured to drink heavily. He was supposed to come home, but Erick Lloyd insisted on taking him to a hot spring."

Joelle froze, fury surging through her veins. "Did Erick not realize that could kill him?"

"Erick is a loose cannon! He's been throwing his weight around ever since his father and brother were chauffeurs for the Miller family. Mrs. Miller, you need to come quickly! Mr. Watson is still in surgery, and the doctors have issued two critical condition notices. I couldn't hold out any longer before calling you!"

His voice cracked as he neared the brink of tears. Joelle knew he wouldn't have reached out unless the situation was truly desperate.

Shawn had always protected her from bad news, no matter how grim the circumstances.

If the assistant was this shaken, Shawn's life must be teetering on the edge.

Joelle felt as if the world was closing in around her, her voice strangled in her throat.

She missed the last step and tumbled hard, her ankle twisting sharply. The searing pain snapped her back to reality, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.

"Oh no! Mrs. Miller, how could you not be watching your steps?"

Leah rushed over and helped Joelle to her feet.

Joelle clutched Leah's arm, her vision blurred by tears. She tried to speak, but the words came out choked and broken between sobs.

"My brother... I have to see him at the hospital!"

Sensing the urgency in her voice, Leah didn't hesitate. "Alright, don't worry. I'll get the driver to take you right away!"

Leah was a seasoned and dependable maid who had served the Miller family for years. Within five minutes, the car was parked before the villa.

As Joelle was about to step into the car, she turned to Leah. "Please, don't tell Irene about this. I don't want to worry her."

Leah's heart softened at Joelle's words.

Even in her pale, tear-streaked state, Joelle was thinking of Irene's well-being.

What a rare and remarkable girl she was!

"Don't worry, Mrs. Miller. I know what to do. Go see your brother."

When Joelle arrived at the hospital, Shawn had just been wheeled out of surgery.

Seeing Shawn hooked up to tubes and wires, the assistant nearly crumpled to the floor.

As Joelle approached, she found him kneeling against the wall, his eyes bloodshot and hollow.

She held back the urge to scold him for not protecting Shawn better. There would be time for that later.

Once Shawn's condition stabilized, Joelle pulled the assistant aside.

"Tell me everything--how did this happen?"

The assistant hesitated, his face drawn with worry. "Mrs. Miller, Mr. Watson specifically instructed us not to involve you in business matters."

"This is a matter of life and death. Do you still think keeping me in the dark is an option?"

Joelle's patience snapped, and she turned to walk away.

"Mrs. Miller, it's no use." The assistant's voice was heavy with despair. "You know that ever since your father passed, Watson Group has rested entirely on Mr. Watson's shoulders. He's been fighting to uphold the family's dignity so that your life in the Miller family would be easier."

For three years, Shawn had fought valiantly to keep the family afloat. However, without Adrian's financial backing, their efforts would have crumbled long ago.

Shawn's deepest wish was for Joelle to live comfortably, but despite his relentless efforts, he could never win her the respect she deserved from her husband.

No matter how much Shawn sacrificed, Joelle would remain undervalued in the Miller family.

Joelle's anger simmered, yet she knew she couldn't change her reality.

Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Did you mention my relationship with Adrian?"

She hoped that aligning herself with the Miller family could help Shawn stand his ground.

"Mr. Watson refuses to bring it up. He's afraid it will only make things harder for you."

Joelle let out a bitter laugh.

From the beginning, she had never been able to stand on equal footing with Adrian.

No wonder he despised her--she could barely tolerate herself.

Just an hour ago, she had resolved to ask for a divorce. Now, she found herself clinging to Adrian's name, desperate to make life easier for Shawn.

"Tell Shawn I'm Adrian Miller's wife, the one Irene handpicked. As long as I'm Mrs. Miller, I will hold my head high in the Miller family!"

Footsteps echoed behind her.

Joelle turned and locked eyes with Adrian's cold gaze.

Beside him stood a frail-looking girl with wide, innocent eyes, clinging to Adrian openly.

Adrian's glance at Joelle was filled with cold disdain, as if even acknowledging her presence was an effort.

This cunning woman had d**gged him into marriage. With such deceitful tactics, how could she easily walk away from this union? The same marriage served as a lifeline for her struggling family.

He had given Watson Group a hundred million each year. Joelle would be a fool to risk losing that by actually divorcing him.

Chapter 4 She Finally Figured It Out
Joelle had long since grown numb to Adrian's cold indifference.

She quietly observed their intertwined arms, her thoughts drifting to the sweet moments captured in Rebecca's videos that had made many envious.

What a perfect couple they made! The thought struck Joelle like a k*ife, and suddenly, she felt like the real third wheel.

"Joelle, please don't get things wrong!" Rebecca's voice was laced with urgency as she quickly withdrew her hand from Adrian's arm. "I'm not well and can't walk far. Adie was just being kind enough to support me."

Joelle managed a faint smile. "What brings you to the hospital?" she asked Adrian, deliberately ignoring Rebecca's explanation.

If there was one thing Joelle had learned, it was that the best revenge against the other woman was to act as if she didn't exist.

"It's about Erick," Rebecca interjected, her hands clasped in front of her like a repentant child.

"I also came to say sorry to you, Joelle. Sorry about Erick being so careless and causing your brother to end up in the hospital."

Joelle retorted, "Did I hear careless? Your brother nearly killed mine, and you think an apology is enough to make it right?"

Rebecca flinched, instinctively clutching Adrian's sleeve for support.

Adrian's voice was as cold as winter when he finally spoke. "That's enough, Joelle. It wasn't intentional."

Then he turned to Rebecca, and his tone softened. "Let's go. Aren't you here to see Erick?"

A wave of icy realization washed over Joelle. She had hoped naively that Adrian was here to check on Shawn. But no, he was just here for Rebecca, to see Erick.

Even if he did stop by to see Shawn, it would only be out of obligation, nothing more.

She knew better than to expect Adrian to defend her.

"Rebecca, I won't forget what Erick did!" Joelle said.

Rebecca's legs buckled, and she collapsed against Adrian's chest. He caught her just in time, holding her close.

"Joelle, Erick didn't mean any harm. He's in the hospital too!"

"Is he dead? If not, he has to pay for what he's done!"

Joelle rarely lashed out, but today was different. Shawn was basically the only family she had left. Her father, incapacitated by a stroke, lay in a vegetative state with little or no hope of recovering, and her mother had perished in a car accident.

Since she was eighteen, it had been just her and Shawn, facing the world together. During their darkest hours, Shawn had carried the burden alone, allowing Joelle to pursue her passion for the violin.

Now, the thought of losing him too was unbearable. She wished nothing more than for Erick to die.

"Joelle, how can you say that?" Rebecca sobbed, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Adrian's patience snapped, and his eyes turned cold as they locked onto Joelle. "What do you want?"

"Shawn received two critical condition notices. How about Erick?"

Rebecca gasped, clinging to Adrian as if he were the only thing keeping her from collapsing, her fragile body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"Joelle, please! I only have one brother left. Show mercy, please!"

She fainted before Joelle could respond, leaving no room for further argument.

Adrian scooped Rebecca up, his eyes filled with cold reproach as he looked at Joelle one last time.

He walked away, leaving Joelle standing there, rooted to the spot, unable to move or even think for what felt like an eternity.

Before their marriage, she had been the cherished girl, but afterward, she had reduced herself to the role of Adrian's servant.

Looking back, she realized how naive she had been.

She used to be such a proud person, but now she endures all kinds of grievances just to please her husband.

How pathetic!

It's been three years, it's time to divorce and start a new life...

......

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Heart-warming Novel

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